THE SUSPICIOUS JACKDAW.
tears. 'Mother,' said her son, 'it appears to me that you have trusted the only creature about you that was utterly unworthy of trust!'
The old lady was so much disheartened that she could not say a word; but such is the audacity of a jackdaw's nature, that not half an hour after this, when the foot-boy brought in the tea things, Jack walked in after him with a grave expression of countenance and hopped on to the tea table as if nothing had happened.
'Patience shall come back again,' thought the old lady; 'I'll send for her and her mother, and I'll never suspect her any more. It is plain enough now that Jack must have thrown my property down there.'
So the mother of Patience was sent for; but, alas, what disappointments people are doomed to! The mother expressed herself much obliged to Madam Mortimer, but said, that her cousin, in London, hearing that she was out of place, had sent for her to serve in her shop. 'And that I look on as a great rise in life for her,' said the mother, with an air of satisfaction: 'and I am going to send a box of clothes to her next week,' she continued, 'and I shall tell her, ma'am, that you have not forgotten her.'
Madam Mortimer was very much vexed; but the necklace was in her hand, and a sudden thought struck her that she would give it to Patience. So she said, with a sigh, 'Well, Mrs. Grey, when you send the box, you may put this in it.'
Her mother at first looked pleased, but she presently drew back, and said, 'Thank you, kindly,
